Whoops...Yesterday (Wednesday, January 24th) was The BRAD BLOG's 2nd Anniversary! And I was too busy to notice.

Oh, well. What a long, strange --- very strange --- trip it's been.

From our very first blog item...to...wherever the hell the world has turned now.

I'd wax more poetically, except that two years in and up since lord knows when this morning and I couldn't be more exhausted. Or could I? Ask me next year around this time if we're still at it.

In the meantime, feel free to leave a Happy Anniversary Gift in the Tip Jar, if you're so inclined. We could still, even after two years, use it! Otherwise, Open Thread here to your heart's content to celebrate! While I sleep.

Thank you all for helping to make this journey possible and so incredibly satisfying day after day, and now year after year. Peace. Soon.

What a year 2005 has been. Wish I could say it was a "great year". But it wasn't. Even if it was a "great year" for the blogosphere and the citizen's uprising against both a failed media and a failed administration. I'm sorry to say that America's shame is the blogosphere's gain. I'd be much happier if it weren't the case. I'd be happier still if our government halted its tragically wreckless and misguided foreign policies, cynically and ironically implemented in the name of "national security". I'd be joyous beyond reason if the unprecedented rise and reign of corruption in DC came to an end. And giddy to the point of distraction if the Mainstream Media woke up finally from their five-year slumber and decided to show up to play their vital role as our fourth estate once more. All of which would allow for a welcome retirement from the job I reluctantly find myself doing much less because I want to, and much more because I believe it's necessary.

At the year's very end, I thought it would be interesting to compile a "Best of BRAD BLOG 2005". A list of notable stories, achievements, landmarks, highlights and lowlights. In the process, I was overwhelmed by how much has been recorded on these cyber-pages over the last twelve months. Selecting choices for the "Best of..." list was no easy feat, even if the end result is still a rather hefty compilation of notable stories. I welcome your thoughts on these selections and any additions that you, dear BRAD BLOG readers who have made it all possible, feel should have made it onto this list. As always, all of our archived stories are here for your perusal.

I can't turn the page to 2006 until I've given a proper thanks to the many who have made The BRAD BLOG what it is and The BRAD SHOW what we hope it may soon be. To all the Guest Bloggers, contributors, tipsters and sources (named and otherwise) who have shaped the very character of these pages, I say thank you. To name just a few (and likely to leave too many errantly out!) I'd like to recognize a few folks who have served above and beyond the call of duty here over the past year: "Winter Patriot", David Edwards, John Gideon, John Byrne, "Kira", Brett, Katrina Wilcox, Joseph Cannon, Ben Burch, Jaime Robledo, Kat L'Estrange, Ilene Proctor, Aerielle Louise, Otie McClay, Lydia Cornell and Desiree Doyen. Thank you all several times over. And, of course, without you readers, listeners, emailers, commentors, donators (see how I snuck that in?) and all-around patriotic trouble-makers, I am nothing. So thank you all from the very bottom of my heart.

From Bush's ignominious inaugural and electoral challenge in January...to new revelations in the Clint Curtis story and CNN's duplicitious or just dumb drumbeating for war in February...to Velvet Revolution's launch of a campaign against American Voting Machines companies, a stunning twist in the Curtis case and the appearance of a phony GOP "voting rights" group in March...to a cooked "National Election Reform" commission, a new radio show and the emergence of the "BRAD BLOG 6 or 7" in April...to spiked newspaper columns and outrage on Capitol Hill in March...to meltdowns in Congress and Conyers at the White House gates in June...to whitewashed investigations, censored websites, fired elections workers, a heroic "Blogathon" and the first whiffs of "the I word" in July...to an unexpected trip to Crawford TX to be a witness to history and to "be the media" like never before in August...to Rove shenanigans, disastrous hurricanes, an insider dubbed "DIEB-THROAT" and "nothing at all" happening in D.C. in September...to running Ann Coulter off the air, finding Conservatives who despise her and discovering "faith-based voting" is alive and well in October...to GAO reports corroborating and ignored, staggeringly impossible election results and Ann Coulter lashing back in November...to a remarkable end of the year unraveling of the once-great, now-disgraced company known as Diebold and more election reform panics than one could shake a stick at, much less blog about as fully as it all deserved, in December...2005 has been --- to paraphrase Dubya --- "a heckuva year".

And with that overly long preamble, and having more than a few ideas of what is soon to come in 2006, I hope you now enjoy a look back, if only at a few of the remarkable headlines! --- to the BRAD BLOG year that was 2005...

In an extraordinary lapse of both common "netiquette" and overall decency, Republican bootlicking extremist Ann Coulter has posted a personal phone number and email address of BRAD BLOG Guest Blogger Lydia Cornell on the front page of her website with a link to the post again on her "Quotations from Chairman Ann" page.

Apparently in vindictive retaliation to Cornell's guest blog item published by The BRAD BLOG late last week, titled "Death is Sexier than Sex (to Ann Coulter)" Coulter has now publicly posted a personal Email Cornell had sent to Coulter while she was working on her story for us.

In Cornell's guest blog article, the actress and author reported on her experience attempting to receive a copy of Coulter's recent speech given to the Alachua, FL Republican party in which she called for the repression of the free speech of Democrats, adding "Frankly, I'm not a big fan of the First Amendment."

While Coulter had the time to take a 6th grade level ad hominem shot at Cornell ("Well, death is certainly sexier than Lydia Cornell") in her response, apparently the desperate Coulter didn't have the time to actually reply to Cornell's note, ask her for permission before publishing it publicly, or most despicably of all, have the decency to redact the personal information from the note before posting it online.

Coulter (whose personal email address we're tempted to post, but we're attempting to avoid sinking to her slimy depths) most recently called decorated Korean and Vietnam war vet and one-time Iraq War supporter, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) "gutless" because he had the temerity to call for the withdraw of U.S. troops in Iraq.

But the true gutlessness displayed by Coulter in the posting of the personal information of one of her critics on her own widely read website would seem to demonstrate the true nature of the "courage" of Coulter's convictions. That is, if she still actually has any actual convictions left besides her desperate and vainglorious attempts at making money through hate speech and at the cost of the blood of the American men and women she continues to advocate should die for her imagined freedoms. What a horrendous "human being". No wonder both Christians and Conservatives (real ones) are turning against her.

The complete text of Cornell's polite letter (as posted on Coulter's website, but with personal information redacted) along with Coulter's petulant little response follows...

While many of you were off enjoying Thanksgiving, the BRAD BLOG folks were (all too hard) at work fighting to save the world! Below you'll find just a few of just the most notable items from over the past several days...With many more to be found for those wise enough to scroll down.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to remind readers that BRAD BLOG is still largely reader supported! So before the holiday crush hits you and your pocketbook too hard, please feel free to Donate Online to our efforts so that we may continue to bring you such important material!

You can click here to make a one time donation, or --- by popular demand --- you may now finally create your own monthly subscription for any amount you like! Just use the simple blue form on the right side of the page! (There is also a snail mail address on that form at right if you prefer.)

Thanks for your tremendous support and we hope you continue to enjoy, The BRAD BLOG! We'll keep fighting to save the world as long as you continue to help join us in the effort!

And now...just a few of the great items you may have missed from over the holiday weekend...

Death Is Sexier Than Sex (to Ann Coulter) Wherein Actress, Author and now BRAD BLOG Guest Blogger Lydia Lydia Cornell Attempts to Hold Alachua, FL Republicans' Feet to the Fire for Supporting and Profiting off the 'Political Porn' of One of America's Top Hate-Speakers...

Confusion, Misreporting Surround Reports on CA Sec. of State Diebold Voting Machine 'Hack' Test! Mainstream Media Reports Indicating Scheduled Attempt to 'Hack' Voting Machines Are Wrong State, Activists Still Negotiating Paramaters, Scheduling of Test as State and Federal Deadlines Draw Near?

VIDEO: Sunday Talk Show Round-Up on the GOP's Growing Corruption Scandal... Scandal could bring down at least a dozen in Congress A video compilation of the weekend's discussion on the matter

VIDEO: White House Pushed UK to Kill al-Jazeera Bombing Story Bush wanted to bomb Arab news network to prevent reports on Falluja attack BRAD BLOG has the full British Channel 4 Investigative Report

VIDEO: Pat Buchanan Predicts More CIA Leak Indictments BUCHANAN: "Scooter will not be the last indictee" And Another Time magazine reporter agrees to testify

America Turns Blue And finally...While you were away enjoying the Holiday, something remarkable has happened in America!

Thanks again for your support of The BRAD BLOG! On the job 24/7/365...Whether we like it or not!

While I was up recently to speak at the "National Summit to Save Our Elections" in Portland, OR, I was asked to sit down for a few minutes with Clint Curtis to do a quick interview for "SourceCode" on Free Speech TV. Apparently their episode devoted to Election Fraud has been airing all week to folks who have satellite TV (which I don't).

I haven't yet had time to watch the entire episode, but here's the specific segment in which I interview Curtis. It's a quickie (about 4 minutes), so we don't get into too much detail for folks who already know the story, but hopefully the interview is worthwhile nonetheless.

The longer audio and text transcript of the interview I did with him onstage at the conference (as noted previously) is available here.

ALSO...I've just been informed --- at the very last minute, sorry --- that Curtis will be speaking at an E.R. event near Orlando today and tomorrow. Info follows...

What: "Achieving Election Reform: A Florida Statewide Conference"
Where: SeraLago Hotel & Suites, Kissimmee (just south of Orlando)
When: Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13, 2005
Time: 10 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday
Hosted by: Florida Fair Elections Coalition (FFEC)
Cost: Free (donations accepted)

Clint will be speaking at 4pm ET Saturday the 12th (that's today!) and will be available to meet with conference goers from 9a to Noon on Sunday the 13th. Go say hello if your read this in time and happen to be in the 'hood!

We were informed last Friday that BradBlog.com is one of many "CIA Internet Fakes" as BreakForNews.com's Editor (and theoretically, a "reporter") Fintan Dunne has reported it.

While we learned of our covert CIA operative status late last Friday, as we were deep in the throes of preparing our radio show, we haven't had time to share the shocking news with you until now. As well, we thought we'd give Dunne a chance to reply to our emailed inquiry on how he came to his ingenious discovery before we posted an item that might result in his looking like a completely clueless boob. (Psst.... That's what actual reporters do before running with an item, Fintan. They attempt to get comment from those they are reporting on ... we're just sayin'.)

Sadly, Dunne failed to reply to our inquiry as he has done in several past instances when he even more egregiously misrepresented/misreported on our work in his "EXCLUSIVE" article on our Clint Curtis reporting.

Even as Fintan Dunne's credibility dies once and for all (did he ever actually have any?) with his silly and wholly unintelligible report, we scratch our head in wonder as we see our good friends at RawStory.com and BuzzFlash.com and scores of others also on the list of CIA Operatives! Who knew?!

And to make things even more confusing, apparently our CIA paycheck is earned for our clever disinfo-filled reporting on 9/11 ... About which we don't believe we've actually ever reported, beyond one or two minor items linking to someone or something else. But why pick nits?

Joseph Cannon, who actually deserves to be on Dunne's list, has a few thoughts on it all. His are actually intelligent. As opposed to either Dunne's or ours on this matter. But Cannon is probably just jealous since he was not included on the list.

Of course, if we were on the CIA payroll, we'd probably respond to Dunne's silly contentless article shocking expose by writing an article precisely such as this one ... to make light of it all in order to distract from Dunne's having unearthed the whole clever scheme, wouldn't we?

So now, you, dear reader, don't really know what to believe any more, do you? Is The BRAD BLOG really a CIA operative or not? You'll never know, because even if we were, we'd never be able to admit it, would we?

And with all of that said, if we actually are in the pay of the CIA, we'd really appreciate it if they'd fork it over! We're frickin' starving over here for chrissakes! Or are we?! --- Either way, we'd love it if they finally paid us (and we'd love your help as well, just in case we're not actually on their payroll) via our double super-secret covert P.O. Box:

Brad Friedman
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594
Los Angeles, CA 90028

The CIA --- or "The Firm" as NOCs like us call our place of employment --- may also feel free to pay us online with PayPal!

We'll take it! And we'd much appreciate it! And Fintan? ... Get some help, friend. Seriously....

Guest blogged by Winter Patriot

Please Visit The BRAD STORE and/or Donate via Credit Card or PayPal and/or Donate via Snail Mail.

The BradBlog's First Annual BLOGATHON is underway! A handful of faithful readers have liberated the Brad Blog and are now in control. As far as we know, nothing like this has ever been done before. So if we look like we don't know what we're doing, that's the basic idea! But we're not the only ones. Nobody knows what we're doing!!

Look What We Have At The BRAD STORE!! but We Still Need More Donations and You Can Donate By Mail.

We'll leave this stay-on-top item up-on-top for the whole BLOGATHON, and we'll update it frequently throughout the event. So please check in here often to see what's new, what's coming up soon, and how to catch up on anything you've missed!!

A BLOGATHON-INSPIRED GRAND OPENING:
Please visit The BRAD STORE during its Grand Opening! If you don't feel like buying anything, then please make a donation via PayPal or else please make a donation via snail mail.

If it seems like we're trying to separate you from some of your money, yes! you're catching on! Why? Here's just one reason: Studio time for The BRAD SHOW costs $500 per week. Brad sells some ads but they never cover his studio time. So he pays the difference out of his own pocket. Anyone wondering whether it's worth it should visit The BRAD SHOW and listen to some interviews. Where else can you hear radio like that? And how else can he pay for it? Yes? Right! Now you're catching on!

WE'RE FUNDRAISING --- PLEASE HELP!

• Some Great Gift Ideas
• Let The Silent Auctions Begin!
• Fractal Art from Peg C.
• The BRAD STORE Is Now Open!!
• Go There And Buy Something --- Or Else!!
• Make A Donation via Credit Card or PayPal
• Make A Donation via Snail Mail
• Visit The BRAD STORE!!

Yes, we're begging --- a bit! --- but on the other hand, look at what we've been up to...

BREAKING NEWS

• Scottie Takes a Break from Lying about Rove to Lie about Terrorism...
• Thomas Noe Taint Spreading: Look Out Washington!
• White House Backs Away From Rove!!
• FITRAKIS: Hocking County Activists Go To Sheriff's Dept!!

BLOGATHON-RELATED THREADS

• Ladies And Gentlemen, Mr. Brad Friedman
• Conyers to Friedman: 'Great Appreciation And Many Thanks'
• Clint Curtis Puppy-Naming Contest Results
• The Blogathon Continues...
• Has The BRAD BLOG Been Hijacked?
• Clint Curtis Puppy Naming Contest
• The Blogathon Guest Book
• When Did You Start Reading BRAD BLOG? And Why Did You Continue?

SUNDAY'S LIVE GUEST BLOGGERS

• Bob Koehler: America, America
• Bob Fitrakis: 'Open Letter To John Tanner' and 'Indictment Of Incompetence'
• Winter Patriot: Double Whammy
• Clint Curtis: The Whistleblower Blogs!

SATURDAY'S LIVE GUEST BLOGGERS

• David Cobb: 'The New Voting Rights Movement' and 'Fighting The Corporate Takeover'
• Larisa Alexandrovna: Some Recent Raw Stories
• Winter Patriot: It's Just Too Convenient
• John Amato: Justice Sunday: The After Party

FREE-RANGE GUEST BLOGGERS

• Gandhi: Does Reality Even Matter?
• Chris Floyd: The Dream of Unlimited Swag: The Klepto-Plutocracy at War
• Bernie Ellis: To The Merry Blogsters At This BradBlogathon
• Josh Mitteldorf: Making The Most Of What You've Got

The BRAD SHOW

• MICHAEL SMITH of the London Sunday Times
• Karl Rove's friend BILL ISRAEL
• election auditors JOHN BRAKEY and DAVID GRISCOMB
• A Tribute to Andy Stephenson
• Interviews with BRAD BLOGGERS Kira and Steve
• and much much more!
• NOW AVAILABLE VIA The BRAD SHOW Archives
  in case you didn't catch the live show on Saturday or the ReBRADcast on Sunday!

ALL BLOGGED OUT??

• Important Message
• Sunday BRAD SHOW Open Thread
• Saturday BRAD SHOW Open Thread
• Blogathon Tuesday Open Thread
• Blogathon Monday Open Thread
• Blogathon Sunday Open Thread
• Blogathon Saturday Open Thread
• Blogathon Friday Open Thread

MANY THANKS and BEST WISHES

• to Mike Malloy of Air America for this very generous endorsement [mp3]
• to Family and Friends of our late friend Andy Stephenson

We think it went very well!...Today's Blogcall press conference call is playing "LIVE" right now at RadioLeft.com. It may repeat throughout the evening.

[UPDATED] The Blogcall is now posted for posterity in the archives at WhiteRoseSociety.org for your listening pleasure anytime in the future.

The guests were myself and Clint Curtis, and we took questions for the hour. I also took the opportunity to break the news about this morning's Raymond Lemme story on the call...

UPDATE 3/14/05: The New York Times publishes an article on Blogcall after attending the above mentioned conference call. Our comments on their article is here.

I will be appearing this Saturday, Jan 29th at the Freedom Cinema Festival with Clint Curtis in a live event co-sponsored by The BRAD BLOG. It'll be my first time meeting him in person, and it should be a fun afternoon/evening. (Don't worry, I'm told security will be very good).

The festival takes place in Park City, UT smack-dab in the middle of the Sundance Festival. So if any of you are in the area, please be sure to come on by and say hello after the event! There is a ton of terrific political films, events and speakers scheduled, including Greg Palast and Danny Shecter, and, of course, me, so come on by! Click the link above --- or better yet --- the advertisement for the festival at left for more info!

As I'll be interviewing Curtis live, I'd love to open up this comment thread for any questions you might like me to ask Curtis directly from The BRAD BLOG denizens during the event! If they're ones I haven't thought of, I'll try and get the goods for ya straight from the whistleblowers mouth.

I'm told the event will be videotaped, so we'll try and link it up next week upon our return if possible.

And finally...After nearly six months of nearly non-stop 24/7 bloggin' to save the world, countless stories broken, and buckets of muck raked, I'm gonna attempt to use this opportunity to take a slow roadtrip to UT and back and try and get a much needed break here for a week (or so).

Tomorrow, by the way, will be the One Year Anniversary for The BRAD BLOG. What a short strange trip it's been. Thank you all for your support every step of the way. I'd say something more poetic, but I gotta get outta here. So that's that until next year!

I hope you'll forgive my absense (I know Tom Feeney will) for a bit, as I will be attempting to stay away from all things net for as long as possible. We'll see how well I do. I may just jump in from the road as events warrant. But I hope they won't warrant. And I hope there's no net.

Until then, BRAD BLOG stalwart and official typo-corrector, Winter Patriot (of the fine eponymously- named blog and friend Fin (of the superb and silly What We Know blog) may jump in and do some guest-blogging and/or open thread-posting.

Please be nice to them, and keep a good eye on democracy while I'm gone! I would like it to be in much better shape than when I left it! So keep making noise in favor of Truth, Justice and the American Way over at Velvet Revolution while I'm gone as well! And stand by for some trouble-making over there when I return which I believe you will enjoy as well!

(To all the Emailers, forgive my inability to reply while I'm gone, much as you forgive my inability to reply when I'm here!)

Peace.